With over two decades in the music industry, Frank Axtell is a renowned guitarist, composer and teacher and is a major contributor to the south Florida jazz-fusion scene. He performs with his own jazz ensemble, The Frank Axtell Quartet. He toured extensively in the mid 80s along the Atlantic coast and Europe & has recorded on the West Coast at San Franciscos The Record Plant. Thankfully he has decided to make south Florida his home.

Frank attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has always taken his continuing course of musical evolution seriously, learning from prominent guitarists Vincent Bredice, Joe Diorio, Scott Henderson, and Jack Wilkins. In 1990-91 Frank served on the faculty at Miami Dade Community College. He has performed guitar clinics and teaches guitar and electric bass at Digital Soundscapes Studios, West Palm Beach. Currently, with over 40 private students, Frank owns and operates his own multimedia recording studio, Digital Soundscapes where he produces many local artists in addition to composing and engineering his own projects.

Why this name?

For years I performed as a sideman in other bands. It was time to form my own group.

Do you play live?

Yes. I do play out live at festivals and special concert performances. Performing live is always a gas.

How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?

It puts all artists on a level playing field.

Would you sign a record contract with a major label?

It would depend on the situation.

Band History:

The band was started as a trio and eventually became a quartet. The band has had a series of great musicians such as Miami keyboardist Abel Pabon and Venezuelan drummer Gustavo Calle. The current line up includes Lewis Rainbow on drums, Randy Ward on fretless bass and Paul Banman on keyboards.